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Transcript/Script((PLAYBOOK SLUG: SUDAN KHARTOUM FIGHTING (TV/R)
HEADLINE: Analysts: Sudan Conflict at ‘Stalemate’
TEASER: Those fleeing Khartoum describe a city facing collapse
PUBLISHED: Tuesday, 08/15/2023 at 06:04 EDT
BYLINE: Henry Wilkins
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Joda, South Sudan
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Wilkins
VIDEO EDITOR: Henry Wilkins
ASSIGNING EDITOR: Daniel Schearf
SCRIPT EDITORS: DLJ; CAW
VIDEO SOURCES: VOA, Zoom, Twitter
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO _x_
TRT: 2:43
VID APPROVED BY: pcd
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[Analysts say Sudan’s conflict has reached a stalemate both militarily and diplomatically, with little hope of a swift end to the war. Meanwhile, those arriving in South Sudan having just fled from Khartoum describe a city on the verge of collapse. Henry Wilkins reports from Joda, South Sudan.]]
((NARRATOR))
A few hours earlier, Nyalam Phar crossed the border into South Sudan and returned to the land of her birth, after fleeing the fighting in Khartoum. During the journey, she gave birth to a baby girl.
She described a city on the verge of collapse, with parts of the population under bombardment.
((For radio: She says aircraft were firing missiles over people and gunshots at people. She says she escaped the city without even taking any clothes with her, adding, her neighbor was shot along with her three-year-old daughter.))
((Nyalam Phar, South Sudanese Returnee (female/Nuer, 14 secs))
Aircraft were firing missiles over people and gunshots were fired at people. When I escaped, I did not carry with me even a single piece of clothing. My neighbor was shot along with her little daughter, who is only three years old.
((NARRATOR))
Many people who fled Khartoum told VOA they are hoping for a swift end to the conflict, so they can get on with their lives.
Some analysts say a narrow window for dialogue about stopping the fighting in Sudan may have opened.
A report last month from the International Crisis Group, a Belgium-based research group, said the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, had gained an upper hand over the Sudanese Armed Forces, the SAF, in Khartoum, suggesting the SAF may be more willing to come to the negotiating table.
According to other analysts, that window may have already closed, if it ever existed at all.
((For radio: Cameron Hudson is with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington based research group.))
((Mandatory Courtesy: Zoom))
((Cameron Hudson, Center for Strategic and International Studies (Male/English, 23 secs)))
“I would not agree with assessments that some have made that suggest that the RSF is about to take back control of Khartoum. The future of the country depends on there being only one national army and I just don’t see how we can get there through a kind of political process that fold in elements of the RSF into the SAF.”
((Mandatory Courtesy: X))
((NARRATOR))
Before the conflict started, attempts were made to merge the once friendly, now warring, military factions.
Diplomatic efforts to get the parties back on the same side have so far been unsuccessful.
((For radio: Samah Salman is president of the US-Educated Sudanese Association.))
((Mandatory Courtesy: Zoom))
((Samah Salman, US-Educated Sudanese Association (female/ English, 24 secs)))
“What’s problematic about this one side will always see one of these tracks as being biased. So, unless we have one very strong, broad coalition of international partners that can come together in a way that’s not perceived as being biased.”
((NARRATOR))
Daniel Daien, who has also recently fled from Khartoum, says he does not know how long the conflict will last.
((Daniel Daien, South Sudanese Returnee (male/English, 19 secs))
“Life in Sudan became very bad for us, especially we South Sudanese. That’s why we decided to come here so that we can live in our homeland. Up to now, we don’t know when this situation will end, because all our houses have been burned; also, they have killed so many people.”
((NARRATOR))
Daien says he dreads having to rebuild his life in the ruins left behind by the war.
((Henry Wilkins for VOA News, Joda, South Sudan))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Joda, South Sudan
BylineHenry Wilkins
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
